Fifth-wheel



(No Model.) r Sheets-Sheet 1. A. BUGHHOLZ.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 340,693. Patented Apr. 27, 1886.

L U JG.

INVE/VTUI? (No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

A. BUOHHOLZ.

FIFTH WHEEL.

No. 340,693. PatentedAp r. 27, 1886.

WITNESSES fforney N. PETERS, Pinon-Lithographer, Washinglan. n. c.

"UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

AUGUST BUGHHOLZ, OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0.340,693, dated April 27, 1886..

Application filed January 29, 1886.

to a minimum and at the same time admit of the greatest latitude of movement in all re quired direct-ions.

A further object is to provide strong and durable fil'tlrwheel mechanism, which shall render the liability to damage from breakage or loss much less than that hitherto experienced In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is l a view of aportion of the front-axle and reach and the fiftlrwheel mechanism in plan.

Fig.

2 is a vertical section taken through the longitudinal axis ofthe reach. Fig. 3 is a front view. Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are modifications.

A represents the front axle ofa vehicle. On the central portion of the axle A is secured a bar, B. The bar B has the semicircular guidebar 0 rigidly attached to its ends, and is conveniently secured to the axle by a pair of clips, I), as shown. It is further held against a lat eral movement on the axle by lips (I, which extend down over the front and rear edges of the axle.

At its center, over the middle point of the axle A, the bar 13 is provided with a circular opening, I), through which the head-block E extends, as follows: The opening bis enlarged 0n the under side of the bar B to receive the enlarged head 6 of the head-block, by means of which the head-block is securely locked in position with its flat enlarged head bearing directl y on the axle. The stem of the head-block extends upwardly through the opening b, in which it has a free rotary movement. The

height to which it extends depends upon the Serial No. 190,173. (3'0 model.)

size of the front wheels of the vehicle relatively to the size of the hind wheels, it being a very simple and satisfactory device for equalizing theheigh'ts of the front and back springs. The upper end of the head-blocks is rounded. as shown at c, and it is provided with a centrally-located open slot, F. A perforation, G, extends through the head-block E transversely to the. slot F.

A spi-ingrest, consisting of a curved plate. H, is provided with a depending flange or lug, 71., adapted to fit loosely within the slot F, in which it is securely locked by the front end of the reach I, which extends loosely through the perforation G, and a correspond ing perforation, g, in the flange or lug h. On the front and rear sides of the flange or lug h the plate H is provided with concave-faced bearingsf, which conform to the curve of the rounded end 0 of the head-block. The spring rest H is thus free to rock from side to side, bearing on the headblock, or on both the head-block and the reach; or, supposing the wagon-body to remain in an adjustment parallel with the general plane of the road, the wheels are free to follow the irregular depressions in the road, which commonly tilt the body from side to side, without affecting the body; or one of the wheels may run on a higher plane than the other without disturbing the horizontal plane of the body. At the same time the axle A may be swung around on the head-block as a pivot, as in turning around, without disturbing the position of the springrest.

To secure the reach to the semicircular bar 0, and at the same time leave the axle A free to tilt from side to side, the reach is rounded at the point where it crosses the bar (3, and an elongated washer or hanger plate, K, is loosely mounted thereon and provided with a retain ing pin or stud, k, which projects forwardly beneath the bar (Land holds thelatterin close proximity to the under side of the reach.

A pin, L, is set in the reach in front of .the hanger plate or washer K, and serves to keep the latter in position; or there-may be a pair of hanger-plates, K, onelocated at the rear and one in front of the circle-bar, and connected beneath the circle-bar by the pin L.

The front end of the reach is provided with a nut, Z, which serves to lock it in position for ISO use. The nut Z is provided with suitable means for locking it against accidental displacement.

Vhen the fifth-wheel mechanism above described is used in connection with a farmers wagon or lumber-wagon, as it is commonly called, the springrest H may be replaced by an iron bar, upon which the front end of the wagon-body could be directly secured. A construction of this character is shown in the modification represented in Fig. 4.

In a truck where it is desirable to have the front wheels turn under the reach the rest H might be formed in the shape of a pair of crossbars, as shown in Fig. 5, and a full-circle bar employed.

In the construction of light wagons and buggies thereaeh may be provided with a threaded front end and terminate in a threaded socket within the head-block and spring-rest,as shown in Fig. 6. The bar B may be pillowed on the intervening bar or block instead of on the axle itself, and in wagons where it is desirable to use two front springs thespring-rest may con sist of a bar reaching a suitable distance to the right and left, and other changes might be re sorted to in the form and arrangement of the several parts without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention; hence I do not wish to limit myselfst-rietly to the construction here in set forth; but,

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination, with a bar having an opening therein and a head-block adapted to form a pivot on which the axle swings, the said head-block passing through the opening in the bar, and having an enlarged head resting in contact with the undersurface of said bar, of a wagonbody support secured to the headblock in tilting adjustment, substantially as set forth.

2. In fifth-wheel mechanism, the combination, with an axle, a bar rigidly secured thereto and having an opening therein, a headblock having an enlarged head, the latter resting in contact with the under surface of said bar, and a reach-bar passing loosely through I the head-block, of a bodysupport secured to the head-block in tilting adjustment, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination, with the bar connecting the ends of the curved guide-bar and means for securing the said counectingbar to the axle, of the head block extending loosely through the connecting-bar and provided with an enlarged head adapted to rest on the axle, substantially as set forth.

l. The combination, with the head-block resting on the axle and a bar secured to the axle and holding the head-block in position, of the spring-rest and the reach extending through thehead-block and lockingthespringrest in tilting adjustment thereto, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination, with the head-block resting on the axle and having a rounded upper end, and a bar secured to the axle and holding the head-block in position thereon, of the spring-rest resting on the rounded upper end of the head-block and the reach extending through the head-block and locking the spring-rest in tilting adjustment thereto, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the axle secured to the reach in tilting adjustment and the circle-bar extending beneath the reach, of the swinging Washer or hanger-plate, substantially as described, adapted to hold the circle-bar in close proximity to the reach, substantially as set forth.

7. The fifth-wheel mechanism, consisting, essentially, of the head-block resting on the axle and secured thereto by a removable bar carrying the circle bar, the spring-rest bearing on the head-block and secured thereto by the reach, and the plate for securing the circlebar to the reach, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AUGUST BUOHHOLZ.

\Vitnesses:

S. A. KLINE, J. H. HIBBERI). 

